141: The Illusion of Hypocrisy

[Inside the police station, overwhelmed by the news of his wife jumping into the sea and nearly two days of sleeplessness, you fainted from sheer exhaustion.]

[The Isshiki couple was shocked and momentarily forgot about Miri's situation, quickly taking you to the hospital.] 

[Fortunately, after a diagnosis, the doctor determined that your fainting was due to severe fatigue.] 

[As a young person, your body would recover quickly with a good rest. However, the doctor advised the Isshiki couple to avoid such extreme fatigue in the future.]

[After expressing their gratitude, the Isshiki couple brought you back home.] 

[They looked at you lying in bed, then at the closed and locked door of their daughter's room, and thought about Miri, who had ultimately succumbed to suicide due to her unresolved issues from the past.] 

[For a moment, they seemed to age ten years.]

[Even as older individuals with more experience and mature thinking, they were now feeling the unbearable pain of life.]

[Standing in the room from the perspective of a family member, their anguish was profound. They could not fully comprehend the despair you felt upon receiving the news.]

[Iroha, in a dimly lit room with the curtains drawn, hugged her knees with her chin resting on them. Her eyes were bloodshot as she stared blankly at two items in front of her.]

[The note left by her sister and a childhood photograph of her with Chisato.]

[The photograph, taken shortly after Chisato's stepfather and stepmother's accident, showed him in mourning clothes.] 

[Compared to the clueless child in front of the camera, his small face displayed no expression.]

[He looked at the camera direction with a mechanical and numb gaze, almost instinctively.]

[At that time, the young boy was like… the current Chisato.]

[Iroha remembered her mother saying that Chisato, at a young age, lost all his family and relatives.] 

[No one wanted to take care of him, so he ended up in an orphanage, living alone in misery.]

[He had already endured many hardships and suffered from life's adversities.]

[Now, as an adult, he had gained strength and was able to stand tall. Through his efforts and kindness, he found his true love and built a happy family.]

[Just as he had talked about having three children with his sister on their wedding night, hoping to raise them to become doctors or lawyers and enjoy a harmonious and happy family, no longer feeling lonely.]

[But now, all of this was shattered.]

[The misfortunes of Chisato's childhood could be attributed to misfortune and accidents. However, the happiness he had achieved as an adult slipping away—whose fault was that?]

[In the quiet room, Iroha's vacant eyes had already shed countless tears.]

[She let the tears run down her face while her lips slightly parted, making a lifeless, eerie laugh.]

[Something inside had crumbled.]

[She thought, don't pretend to be innocent and naive, Iroha. The root cause of the current situation is you.]

[It was your foolishness that caused Miri's baby to never arrive in this world, leaving Chisato's mother to depart with regret and disappointment.] 

[It led to Miri's inability to bear children, and when she learned of this fact, she turned from hope to despair, ultimately choosing to end her life.]

[It was you who shattered what could have been a very happy Chisato into pieces.]

[If you had been more careful and cautious back then, if you had been more attentive while going down the stairs.]

[If you had kept your mouth shut and concealed the sorrowful fact for a little longer.]

[If you had stayed by Miri's side as you promised Chisato.]

[Would things have developed to this point of irreparable despair?]

[Reflecting on these heart-wrenching thoughts, overwhelmed by guilt and remorse, Iroha's expression had become utterly vacant.]

[After sitting still for hours, she finally moved. She got out of bed, opened the drawer of her desk, and took out a pair of scissors.]

[The sharp blade reflected a cold light under the sunlight filtering through the curtain.]

[Iroha's hands trembled as she slowly brought the blade to her neck.] 

[As she prepared to end it all, her gaze accidentally fell on the note left by her sister on the bed.]

[The note said to take care of Dad, Mom, and… Chisato.]

[Clink.]

[The scissors fell to the floor, and Iroha collapsed onto the floor, covering her chest with her hands, crying uncontrollably.]

…

[The next morning, you woke up.]

[You found the Isshiki couple and Iroha in your room. Mr. Isshiki was slumped over the desk, while Mrs. Isshiki and Iroha were by your bedside.]

[A slight movement caused all three to awaken simultaneously. Mrs. Isshiki anxiously inquired about your condition.]

[Your eyes were filled with loneliness and disappointment as you simply shook your head without speaking.]

[You got out of bed, not showing any smile, and, with unsteady steps under their watchful gaze, went to the wardrobe and selected a set of clothes to change into.]

[During this time, Mr. Isshiki came over and quietly asked where you wanted to go, but you did not respond.]

[After changing clothes, you tried to leave the room, but Mrs. Isshiki tightly held your hand, not allowing you to leave.]

[Iroha also blocked the door with her body. Seeing her swollen eyes, you remained silent for a long time before finally speaking.]

[Your voice was hoarse as you said you wanted to go to the police station to find out the exact location where Miri had jumped from.]

[Once the Isshiki couple understood, they ceased their attempt to stop you.]

[Seeing you, as if a puppet with no emotion, the turbulent negative emotions swept over Iroha again.] 

[She pressed her lips tightly, took a deep breath, and obediently stepped aside.]

[You all went to the police station, where you learned the exact location where Miri had jumped, and the shoes found by the Japanese police were returned to you.]

[Holding your beloved wife's shoes, you arrived at the spot where she had jumped.] 

[You sat cross-legged, slowly looking at the sea before you, like a monk in meditation, remaining motionless for a long time.]

[Iroha watched you from behind, your previously stable and reliable figure now seeming precarious and on the verge of collapse in her eyes.]

_______

20+ advanced chapters on patreon.com/SenatusTheta

_______

If any of you noticed an error, please point it out in comments!